[Chron.Com] Bob Knight to host reality TV show on ESPN

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/front/3297960

By BETSY BLANEY
Associated Press


LUBBOCK — Bob Knight will give one Texas Tech student the chance to play on his team in a reality show hosted by the Hall of Fame coach.

Sixteen students will attend Knight School, the name of the show set to air on ESPN in February, and Knight will whittle the class to one during six one-hour episodes. Filming will begin in late September.

That player will have endured what all Knight players do — a gauntlet of drills, conditioning and competitive situations — and will have chance to be a walk-on for the 2006-07 season.

"It's a great opportunity for the kids at Texas Tech who want to have a shot at playing for a legend as well as learning from a legend," said Robert Lundgren, one of the show's executive producers with Knoxville, Tenn.-based RIVR Media.

Knight was out of town and unavailable to comment today. He told the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal earlier that in addition to the tryout format, filming will include shots of the campus and the students in class and in other activities.

"From a public relations standpoint, this couldn't be any better for Texas Tech," Knight said.

Lundgren said the idea came from Dan Stone, chief executive officer with Hunnington, N.Y.-based WealthEffectMedia and another executive producer of the show who knows Knight.

Discussions about the show began about a year and a half ago and details were finalized in recent weeks, Lundgren said.

"It's just one of those great ideas you hear and you go, '... this is going to be a great show,' " Lundgren said.

ESPN spokesman Rob Tobias said there will be story lines following those competing as well as a look inside Knight's coaching style.

"These are all the parts that make a successful reality show," Tobias said. "This type of show has drama built into it."

Knight's boss, Tech athletic director Gerald Myers, said Knight and his style will do well in front of cameras.

"Bob will be great with a show like this," Myers said. "It'll be a great opportunity to play with one of the all-time great basketball coaches. He's excited about it. We're excited about it."

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RIVR Media: http://www.rivr.com/